Antibiotic photocatalysis and antimicrobial activity of low-cost multifunctional Fe3O4@HAp nanocomposites

Water contamination by multiple pollutants is a serious environmental issue originating from the many diverse sources of pollution. It has worsened with the appearance of new contaminants, named emerging micropollutants, such as drug residues which are considered a potential threat to human health and/or ecosystems. These require prior treatment before release into the environment. Simultaneous adsorption and photocatalysis as well as solid-liquid separation are promising technologies for water treatment. In order to obtain low cost photoactive nanocomposites, porous and magnetic Fe3O4-hydroxyapatite (wFeHAp) nanocomposites were prepared by soft chemistry from the dissociation of natural phosphate into Ca2+ and H3PO4 precursors, further neutralized by ammonia in the presence of preformed Fe3O4 particles. The magnetic nanocomposites were characterized and examined as effective antibacterial agents. Fe3O4 association with apatite modifies the surface properties of the wFeHAp nanocomposite materials, yielding efficient antimicrobial activity for S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains. The photocatalytic removal of ciprofloxacin (CPF) and oxytetracyclin (OXT) antibiotics in water was also evaluated. The wFeHAp nanocomposites adsorbed and degraded the selected antibiotics successfully. Toxicity evaluation of the treated water after photodegradation using the four strains demonstrates the absence of toxic by-products at the end of the reaction. Therefore, Fe3O4@HAp nanoparticles are valuable for antimicrobial and photocatalysis applications.

Z-scheme WO3/PANI heterojunctions with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light: A depth experimental and DFT studies

A WO₃@PANI heterojunction photocatalyst with a various mass ratio of polyaniline to WO₃ was obtained via the in situ oxidative deposition polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of WO₃ powder. The characterization of WO₃@PANI composites was carried via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic efficiency of WO₃@PANI photocatalysts was assessed by following the decomposition of the Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation (λ >420 nm). The results evidenced the high efficiency of the WO₃@PANI (0.5 wt %) nanocomposite in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB (90% within 120 min) under visible light irradiation 3.6 times compared to pure WO₃. The synergistic effect between PANI and WO₃ is the reason for the increased photogenerated carrier separation. The superior photocatalytic performance of the WO₃@PANI catalyst was ascribed to the increased visible light in the visible range and the efficient charge carrier separation. Furthermore, the Density Functional Theory study (DFT) of WO₃@PANI was performed at the molecular level, to find its internal nature for the tuning of photocatalytic efficiency. The DFT results indicated that the chemical bonds connected the solid-solid contact interfaces between WO₃ and PANI. Finally, a plausible photocatalytic mechanism of WO₃@PANI (0.5 wt %) performance under visible light illumination is suggested to guide additional photocatalytic activity development.

Study of Clinical and Biological Characteristics of Moroccan Covid-19 Patients With and Without Olfactory and/or Gustatory Dysfunction

Background

The epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), presents a significant and urgent threat to global health. This alarming viral infection, declared as pandemic by the WHO in February 2020, has resulted millions of infected patients and thousands of deaths around the world. In Morocco, despite the efforts made by the authorities, the SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and constitutes a burden of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to describe clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Moroccan patients and to establish the relationship between specific clinical symptoms, namely ageusia and/or anosmia, with these characteristics.

Methods

We performed a descriptive, non-interventional cross-sectional study analyzing data from 108 patients admitted to the VINCI clinic, Casablanca (Morocco). The database includes 39 parameters including epidemiological characteristics, anthropometric measurements and biological analyzes.

Results

The average of age of the patients was 43.80 ± 15.75 years with a sex ratio of 1:1. The mean body mass index of the patients was 25.54 ± 4.63 Kg/m². The majority of patients had, at least, one comorbidity and among 75% symptomatic patients, about 50% had, at least, three symptoms namely, fever (40.7%), cough (39.8%), myalgia (28.7%), and anosmia and/or ageusia (20.4%). From biological analyzes, we noticed lymphopenia and an elevated protein C reactive and lactate dehydrogenases levels in 24.1, 36.1, and 35.2% of patients, respectively. A disturbance in liver function markers was observed in 15.7% of cases. For the other hemostasis parameters, high levels of prothrombin and platelets were reported in 14.6 and 14.8% of patients, respectively. Comparisons related to the presence of anosmia and/or ageusia did not show any difference for demographic and anthropometric characteristics, while a possibility of a significant difference was revealed for certain biological parameters, particularly the levels of lymphocytes, D-dimer and troponin.

Conclusion

This study provides significant findings that will be used not only to supplement previous studies carried out in Morocco in order to resume the epidemiological situation in comparison with other countries, but also to improve the quality of the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients by identifying all the symptoms of the disease and better understanding its clinical outcomes.

Acceptance of sugar reduction in yoghurt among Moroccan population

Introduction

Morocco has recently developed a plan of reducing sugar consumption to reinforce prevention of non-communicable diseases and to contribute to the achievement of global voluntary targets for non-communicable diseases set by ICN2 by 2025. The objective of the present study was to assess acceptance of yogurts with different percentage reduction of sugar by the Moroccan population.

Methods

A total of 201 participants (age > 15 y.) were recruited to determine the level of sugar reduction in yogurt. Sucrose was added to a plain yoghurt in the following different concentrations 166.5; 149.8; 133.2; 116.5; 99; 83.2 mM/l, corresponding to the reduction of sugar of 0%, -10%, -20%, -30%, -40% and -50%, respectively, compared available yogurt in local market. Overall, the acceptability scores of the different yoghurts were based on liking, “Just About Right” (JAR) and purchase intent scales was used to score the different yoghurts.

Results

Yogurts containing -20% and -30% added sugar were highly accepted by 81% and 74% of respondents. Based on JAR score, yoghurt with 20% (133.2mM/l) and 30% (116.5 mM/l) reduction were considered as “Just about right” by 42.7% and 44.3% respectively. Best average score of purchase intent was obtained for sucrose concentration of 149.8 mM/l. 35.8% and 40.3% for yoghurt with sucrose concentration of 133.2 mM/l and 116.5 mM/l respectively.

Conclusion

The finding from this study indicated that yogurts containing -20% and -30% added sugar were most accepted by respondents. Advocacy before dairy industry to have them commit towards sugar reduction in yogurt is needed, in order to help achieving the national sugar reduction strategy in Morocco.

[Cerebral actinomycosis pseudotumor: a case report]

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral actinomycosis is rare and difficult to diagnose.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a 45-year-old man hospitalized for seizures associated with fever and left hemiparesis. The white cell count and C-reactive protein were elevated. HIV serology was negative. Blood cultures remained sterile. The CT scan revealed hyperdense nodular lesions in the occipital area, with annular contrast uptake and peripheral edema causing a mass effect, suggestive of brain metastasis. The pathology examination of a surgical specimen disclosed cerebral actinomycosis. A dental origin of the infection was suspected. Hemiparesis remained after a 12-month antibiotic regimen associated with dental care and short-term corticosteroid therapy.

CONCLUSION

Actinomycosis should be discussed as a possible diagnosis for all cerebral lesions, particularly in patients with a potential dental infection. Histology is required for positive diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy alone is generally sufficient; surgery is often performed for diagnostic purposes.

Carcinome épithélial–myoépithélial de la cavité nasale

OBJECTIVES

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumor of the salivary glands with an incidence of less than 1%. Most cases arise in the parotid gland. Extraoral location is exceptional. The purpose of this study was to describe a case with nasal location, which is exceptionally reported in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report a case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma arising in the nasal cavity of a 54-year-old woman.

RESULTS

The woman presented with right recurrent epistaxis and on nasal endoscopic examination was found to have a polypoid tumor in the right nasal cavity. The CT-scan demonstrated a soft tissue mass without extension to the rhinopharynx or bony destruction. Histopathologic examination revealed the tumor to consist of a mixture of a solid, tubular, and trabecular structures with a double-layered arrangement of inner eosinophilic cells and outer clear cells. Dual differentiation toward myoepithelial and epithelial cells was confirmed immunohistochemically.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma in the nasal cavity is possible. In published cases, no recurrence or metastasis has been reported in this location.

Schwannome intracérébral: étude anatomoclinique d'une observation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We report a well-documented case of intracerebral schwannoma, presenting as a cystic and solid parietal mass, arising in a 20-year-old woman. Possible mechanisms underlying the histogenesis of this rare lesion are discussed.

METHODS

The clinical, radiological and pathological features are described. The relevant literature is reviewed.

RESULTS

The patient presented seizures and elevated intracranial pressure. Neuroradiologic findings showed a right parietal lesion with cystic and tissular components, intensely enhanced after injecting intravenous gadolinium. The tumor was removed through a right parietal craniotomy. Histological and immunochemical features confirmed the diagnostic of intracerebral schwannoma. The patient is alive without progressive local disease or metastasis. The origin of intracerebral schwannomas has been the source of much controversy. The most popular hypothesis argues that these tumors arise from the proliferation of Schwann cells in the perivascular nerve plexii.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracerebral schwannoma is an extremely rare benign tumor. About fifty cases have been reported. The importance of recognizing this tumor is stressed, particularly in younger patients, given its benign nature, radiological resemblance to other tumors and favorable response to resection without toxic treatment.

[Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung: a rare lesion with a difficult diagnosis]

Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung is a rare lesion described for the first time in 1956 by Liebow. We report a case in a 45 year-old woman who was admitted for exploration of chronic cough. The chest x-ray revealed a round opacity, well delimited in the left pulmonary parenchyma. Surgical resection enabled the histopathological diagnosis of sclerosing hemangioma. We review progress in our knowledge of the histogenesis and diagnosis of this tumor. Immunohistochemistry has been highly contributory although numerous points remain controversial.

[Encapsulating peritonitis disclosing primary melanoma of the small intestine: a case report]

Encapsulating peritonitis is a chronic peritonitis leading to the constitution of the thick white nacred fibrosis membrane. It is a rare affection. Its physiopathology is poorly elucidated. Diagnosis is usually at operation. We report an unpublished case of a 36-year-old patient, admitted for an abdominal mass. The different investigations demonstrated small bowel tumor with entrapped ileal and jejunal loops within a capsule. Diagnosis was made at the time of operation by discovering an encapsulating peritonitis caused by a primary malignant melanoma of the small bowel, which is an exceptional affection.

[Comparison of two hepatitis C virus typing assays in a Tunisian population]

In patients with hepatitis C, it is necessary to determine the genotype of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to tailor treatment schedules. HCV-positive sera from 60 chronically infected patients were analyzed by two methods: serotyping and genotyping, to evaluate the suitability of serotyping method for routine determination of HCV genotype; 47 men and 13 women were included in this study, nine were renal transplant patients and five were hemodialysis patients. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected by Elisa (HCV Ab III, Innogenetics SA) and confirmed by immunoblot assay (INNO-LIA-HCV Ab III update, Innogenetics SA). Genotyping analysis was performed by a line probe assay (Inno-LiPA-HCV, Innogenetics SA) and serotypes were determined by an Elisa-based serotyping assay (Murex HCV serotyping 1-6 HCO2, Murex SA) which detect type specific antibodies against NS4-derived epitopes. Among 60 patients positive for anti-HCV antibodies and confirmed by immunoblot assay only 90% show a strong reactivity with NS4. We found the following genotype distribution : 1b (73.3%), 4 (10%), 1a (5%), 3a (5%), 4c/4d (5%) and 1 not classified (1.7%). The most prevalent serotype was type 1 (60%) followed by serotype 6 (20%), 4 (8.3%), 2 (1.7%) and 10% were no type specific antibodies. The sensitivity of the serotyping and the genotyping assays was 90% with a total concordance of 68.3%. Thirteen samples revealed discrepant results with genotype : 1b (4), 1a (3), 3a (3), 4 (2) and 4c/4d (1). This study indicates that the serotyping assay is less specific than genotyping. However, the test is rapid, relatively easy to perform and represent a reliable alternative in laboratories that lack the specific expertise to typing the HCV by molecular methods.

[Extra-adrenal gland pheochromocytoma. Apropos of 3 cases and review of the literature]

The authors report three new cases of ectopic pheochromocytoma: latero-aortic, bladder and near the kidney. From the review of the literature, they propose a diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for the management of ectopic localisation of pheochromocytoma.

[Encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Particular histological aspect of a case with review of the literature]

The authors report a case of encapsulated papillary neoplasm in the right lobe of the thyroid of a 36-year-old woman. This neoplasm was a papillary encapsulated carcinoma with variable histologic patterns not properly described in the literature. In the light of a review of the literature, the authors stress the macroscopic and histologic aspects of this tumor and they discuss the prognosis and therapeutic tools used to cure this neoplasm.

[Bladder pheochromocytoma and pregnancy. A case report]

The authors report the case of a 31-year old patient who successfully completed a pregnancy despite unsuspected bladder pheochromocytoma. After delivery, the patient required care post-partum due to serious hemodynamic problems. Hypertension had been attributed to toxemia of pregnancy. The authors recall the diagnostic difficulties of tumors of this type, and the means which can be used for topographical diagnosis and the precautions to be taken before this tumor can be treated surgically.

[Extra-pulmonary thoracic hydatid cyst (Pneumology and radiology services of the Military Hospital of Tunis)]

The authors report, in a retrospective study 11 cases of thoracic extra-pulmonary hydatic cyst observed during 4 years of pneumopathology practice. They stress the rarity of this localization and the variability of the clinical data. Chest X-Ray was found no specific whereas, computed tomography led often to the right diagnosis and helped in some cases a puncture of the hydatic cyst.

[Ewing's sarcoma. Retrospective study of 108 cases with review of the literature]

108 cases of Ewing's Sarcoma are collected at the "Curie Institute" and studied by the authors using the modern Technics of electron microscopy, cytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics. They raise the histogenesis and etiological factors not entirely resolved yet at the light of literature review.